Stonehead

I question whether our enemies are strictly foreign. Perhaps there are elements within our own ranks in leadership position who hold higher allegiance to other countries above our own. You see, there are some within our government and with business interests who profit from the Iraqi conflict. The common people are used for cannon fodder and we are led along by lofty ideals and speeches. Peace is an illusion but war should be taken with awareness and thought. We are reaping some of what we, ourselves, have sown. I'd write more but work calls, then rock climbing. BTW, that 'October Surprise' bit is partisan. 'Underhanded' only refers to negotiation to delay the release of hostages so that the credit went to the Reaganites as opposed to the Carter efforts. ...Perhaps too strong a word in lieu of strong conclusive evidence (hearings, indictments, etc.)...

A thinking person has to ask “why” when reading the events listed in the email. Why did the events occur? These events did not occur in a vacuum, in and of themselves. There is a context for each of the events. You should not dismiss the larger picture, the forest while focusing on the trees, the results of each specific event. For instance, in 1953, the CIA assisted in the establishment of the Shah of Iran as ruler of that country through a bloody coup d'état. The seizure of power overthrew Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, the Prime Minister of Iran who was elected by the parliament, and who was the Iranian cultural hero who enforced the Oil Nationalization Bill to terminate British ownership and influence on the Iran's oil industry in 1951. Thereafter, the Iranian people deeply suffered under the Shah's dictatorship. The Shah maintained power through use of ruthless, brutal means primarily through his secret police. His rule was characterized by corruption, phony elections, heavy censorship, torture and execution of thousands of dissenters until the 1979 Revolution. The following is an excerpt from website, Super70s.com: Under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Iran had been a long-time ally of the United States. The Shah's secret police, the Savak, were notorious abusers of human rights, however. President Carter writes in his biography, Keeping the Faith, that he asked the Shah whether he could curb the human rights abuses in Iran. The Shah answered, "No, there is nothing I can do. I must enforce the Iranian laws, which are designed to combat communism." The Shah declared martial law in September 1977. A bloody confrontation between police and Muslims killed several hundred people. Muslims called for the Shah's abdication. The Shah tried to pacify them by granting amnesty to several opposition leaders, including Muslim leader Ayatollah Khomeini, who had been living in exile in France. The Shah also appointed a prime minister, who once in power called for the Shah to leave and disband his secret police. On January 19, 1979 millions of marchers rallied to back Khomeini, who announced from France that he was forming a new government. Khomeini flew into Teheran, the capital of Iran, on February 1, 1979. Meanwhile, the United States was evacuating Americans from Iran. The Shah fled to Morocco. On November 4, 1979, 3,000 militants overran the U.S. Embassy in Teheran and captured 54 embassy staff members. Religious extremist and Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini praised their actions. The militants demanded that: the Shah, who ruled Iran for decades and was now seeking medical treatment in the West, be turned over to them for trial; the United States apologize for crimes against the Iranian people; and the Shah's assets be paid to them. In April 1980, a U.S. rescue mission failed. The hostages were released in 1981, on President Ronald Reagan's inauguration day, 444 days after they were taken. We should focus on this last particular event and the underhanded political maneuvering the Reagan election team undertook to delay the hostage release until after the presidential election. The term “October Surprise” comes from this political deal brokered by Howard Baker and others of the Reagan team. Might we also not forget that the Muhajadeen including Osama bin Laden were given arms and training to fight in Afghanistan against the communists.

aye, what we need is a strong leader who can invoke the melon gods. Invocation of the melon gods

Old news but... "ENGLAND fans will be allowed to smoke dope before Sunday’s crunch clash with France — to keep them calm." "Cops in Lisbon plan to crack down on drunk supporters while turning a blind eye to those spotted puffing on a spliff." "Pot-smoking fans have been assured they will not be arrested, cautioned — or even have their drugs confiscated." "Last night experts said the Portuguese police’s “Here We Blow” policy would reduce chances of a punch-up between rival fans." "Alan Buffry of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance said: “If people are drinking they lose control, if they smoke cannabis they don’t." -- Source

In the Northwest: Enron's real obscenity is continuing cost of 'crisis'--Seattle PI "Ken Lay was part of the Department of Energy transition team. At the White House, "Kenny Boy" was given a private meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney to lay out Enron's input into the Bush administration energy plan. Lay sent the White House five names as possible appointees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Two were named to the commission." --snip-- "In an act of corporate gall, Enron is suing a number of utilities in the West, asking for more than $500 million. It is asking $122 million from the Snohomish PUD, claiming the utility illegally severed a 2001 power contract."

Amazing...that some people actually believe this dribble. It's pure fantasy but not unlike New Age beliefs in things such as ancient astronauts and such. There's a kernel of truth in many things that are fictional, for example, the belief that amino acids or other precursors to life may have been 'seeded' on earth during its early years by cometary debris or by planetary ejecti kicked up by meteorites. For now, I take the orthodox scientific view that life originated here 3.8 billion years ago. BTW, what is the status of Kennewick Man?

Escape is futile.

The best website on audio reversals-- http://www.triplo.com/ev/reversal/

The real travesty is that countries like North Korea most likely have the capability to produce nuclear weapons and to field these weapons on long-range missiles. Just so that we could scrap the ABM treaty and send tax dollars to work on a missile defense system??

In contrast: Squamish Five The five all served relatively short sentences. Ann Hansen was sentenced to life but paroled after eight years. All are now out of prison.

I find it ironic that he set fire to the SUVs "to raise awareness on the effect these types of vehicles have on global warming."

CANADA REFUSES TO CHANGE ITS NAME TO RONALD REAGAN

Memory is a fickle thing.

Why is it that a property crime committed against corporate interests is judged to be worse than some blue-collar crime committed by corporate agents against the general public? Did it start in 1886 with the US Supreme Court case, Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad? And why are some 'people' more equal than others, i.e., are granted more leniency?

Here's what happens when you put commitment together with a willingness to dance with death. Don't read this if you have strong sensibilities regarding alpine risk-taking. Bulldozer Rampage Gunman Dead Original News Article

"They claim they thought it was a person standing beside the road, but couldn't tell from all the dust," said Bakica. "By the time they turned around to look back they said this person was completely covered in hair and took just two strides to get across the whole Alaska highway."

You wanna get surreal?

If only this weekend could be as sunny as it is in the video.

who doesn't open this link at 4:20.

Excellent. Didya try Parts II and III?

WTF!!!

It starts out with the 5-4-3 combination. It's your move first.

Logical proof that Ray Charles is God: 1. God is Love. 2. Love is Blind. 3. Ray Charles is Blind. Therefore: Ray Charles is God.

So, I'm reading this article about the poetry of D.H. Rumsfeld. Didn't know he was a poet didja? Some excerpts of his work: Glass Box You know, it's the old glass box at the— At the gas station, Where you're using those little things Trying to pick up the prize, And you can't find it. It's— And it's all these arms are going down in there, And so you keep dropping it And picking it up again and moving it, But— Some of you are probably too young to remember those— Those glass boxes, But— But they used to have them At all the gas stations When I was a kid. —Dec. 6, 2001, Department of Defense news briefing Clarity I think what you'll find, I think what you'll find is, Whatever it is we do substantively, There will be near-perfect clarity As to what it is. And it will be known, And it will be known to the Congress, And it will be known to you, Probably before we decide it, But it will be known. —Feb. 28, 2003, Department of Defense briefing Anyway, you get the picture ( The Poetry of D.H. Rumsfeld, <a href="http://slate.msn.com/id/2081042" target="_blank">http://slate.msn.com/id/2081042[/url]</a> ). Reading his words, I remembered hearing about how people in the Reagan and Bush I adminstrations used Halcion as a sleep aid. A little research was in order which led to this article.. Makes ya wonder how many current administrators are under medication. Of course, other stuff came up too. ( Colin Powell on (His) Drug Use, <a href="http://talkleft.com/new_archives/004355.html)." target="_blank">http://talkleft.com/new_archives/004355.html[/url]).</a> Are these guys having problems sleeping? There’s even a military need for drugs ( The Need for Speed: Going to War on Drugs, <a href="http://www.acftv.com/archive/article.asp?archive_id=19)." target="_blank">http://www.acftv.com/archive/article.asp?archive_id=19[/url]).</a> Whatya think about this?

Uh, are you playin' the right game?